BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2677

By: Davis, Yvonne

Public Health

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law provides that when a person seeks to amend a birth certificate, there is no time frame by which the amending certificate must be processed.  Section 191.028, Health and Safety Code, explains the process of how to file an amended certificate, including the forms necessary to complete the process. 

C.S.H.B. 2677 establishes a 30-business-day time frame once an amending certificate has been received for an individual to be notified whether the amendment has been accepted for filing.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2677 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services, not later than the 30th business day after the date the department receives a certificate to amend a birth certificate, to notify the individual submitting the amending certificate of whether the amendment has been accepted for filing.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2677 differs from the original by clarifying that the deadline by which the Department of State Health Services is required to notify an individual of whether the amendment has been accepted for filing is not later than the 30th business day, rather than the 30th day, and to clarify that the deadline is determined based on the date the department receives an amending certificate, rather than the date an individual submits an amending certificate.